Upper School

All students wear uniform items in GA colors – solid navy, black, gray, red, or white. Options include collared short or long-sleeved polo shirts embroidered with the GA logo, GA sweatshirts with our without hoods, crewneck sweaters, or fleece jackets/vests, pants and shorts in navy, khaki, or black, and GA kilt, navy or khaki kilt with opaque shorts, leggings or tights. Uniform items are available from multiple vendors. Students can wear any shoes and socks they choose. The Parents' Committee opens the Second GeAr Shop several times throughout the year where gently-used uniform items can be purchased. 

Upper School GA GeAr

Upper School students receive grades four times a year, at the end of each quarter. The November and March reports will include written comments for all courses. The January and June reports will include comments for all courses where the term and/or cumulative grade is below C-.

Advisors closely monitor the academic, extracurricular, and social lives of their advisees. They also communicate with the advisee’s parents, conduct the official parent conferences in the fall and spring, play a key role in the course selection process, and generally troubleshoot for their advisees. Senior advisors assist in setting up and monitoring the Senior Project. The advisor is a good first-contact person for parents with questions about their child. Students have the same advisor for 9th and 10th Grades and another advisor within the same house for their 11th and 12th Grade years. Each advisory is a group of about 10 students from the same grade. 

Established in 2007, the GA House System offers several compelling benefits for students entering the Upper School. Placement in one of our seven Houses…

1. Provides each student a close-knit community within the broader life of Upper School, which supports greater connection and individual relationship-building
2. Provides leadership opportunities for students within each House
3. Creates a setting for additional mentoring and collaboration
4. Enables inter-house activities and friendly competitions
5. Allows faculty advisors to focus on one House, ensuring that all students receive the kinds of attention and guidance that will help them thrive.
   
   The House Head provides leadership and support to all members of the House. In addition to supporting the advisor in their role, the House Head manages a range of issues from course schedule changes to guidance around activity credits, community service, and their academics. Each House meets as a group at least once a week. The meetings are led by the House Head and Prefects, seniors who are selected by a committee and charged with helping to run the house. In addition to taking care of House business, the meeting time can be used for House members to make announcements or discuss school life. Throughout the year every senior gives a speech to their house.

Upper School students are required to participate in two major activities each year, which may include athletics, theatre productions, and other approved activities like leadership positions in major clubs.

16 students

The Upper School is cell phone-free from “bell to bell,” meaning from 8am to 3pm. Cell phones and other smart devices must not be visible or in use unless a medical exemption is provided with a doctor’s note. 

Germantown Academy believes students benefit most from rigorous coursework that prioritizes deep learning, intellectual curiosity, and meaningful engagement with subject matter. While we offer Advanced Placement courses in disciplines where they align with our educational goals, many of our advanced classes are designed as Honors courses. This approach allows faculty to go beyond a standardized AP curriculum, explore topics in greater depth, incorporate original research and discussion-based learning, and tailor instruction to student interests. Colleges recognize the rigor of these courses, and students continue to be exceptionally well-prepared for success in college and beyond.